wreck

Log This Dive

CHIRRIPO

The Chirripo is a big, impressive wreck, sitting upright on the seabed at 25 metres. We love how intact she is, especially for a ship that met her end from a mine in 1917. You can really get a sense of her scale, all 114 metres of her. We usually drop onto the bow, which points north, and then drift along the length. The holds are open and easy to penetrate, though sometimes a bit silty inside if there's been recent surge. What makes the Chirripo a standout for us isn't just her size, it's the sheer amount of life that's made her home. The deck is carpeted in plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying like a field of flowers in the slight current. Look closer into the shadows and you’ll often spot a wolf fish or two tucked away, their grumpy faces peering out. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with lobsters here, big ones too, lurking in the deeper crevices. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the prop shaft tunnel offers a dark, inviting exploration for those comfortable in confined spaces. This wreck is best suited for experienced divers comfortable with deeper North Sea diving and who appreciate maritime history brought to life by abundant marine colonisation.